St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-17
FICTITIous CLAMoR.

IL L 1loOS III AhOh-
The average reader of the daily news
paper is doubtless impressed with the con-
viction that the people of this country are
making one universal kick against the Op-
eratiOns of the interstate commerce law.
One would naturally draw that inference
from the reports of meetings which are be-
ing held all over the country and the pro-
tests that are being made against the law.
Yet when we make more careful survey
of the situation and take peep under the
surface, we observe unmistakable evidences
of machine smack about these indignation
meetings, SO much so in fact as to deprive
them of credence as the real expression
of public sentiment. In the first place the
law has not been i'll operation long enough
for the people to form an intelligent opin-
ion as to it's effect on trade and business.
AS matter of fact it has not been in OPP
Grafton at all except as it has been antici-
pated by the railway companies and en-
forced according to their own Interpretation
of it. The railway commission has not
been organized long enough to even give
an official Interpretation to single
only been in force for twelve days, and
how within so short time the people of
this country can form intelligent judgment
as to its operations is mystery past finding
out. They knew as much about the pros
pective operations of the law before it
passed as they do now, and if there was
such universal opposition to it, as we are
lQI fo in
mind, that was the time for public eX-
preston of opinion Oh the subject. Con-
gress passed the law in the belief that it
was being done in obedience to public de-
mand for its passage. With the exception
OF few newspapers, which were noto-
riously known as the organs of the rail-
road corporations, the entire press of the
country united in commentator of con-
gress for having the nerve to pass the law
in opposition to the power of the Hobbies.
1t would be very singular thing if within
SO short a time there should be such a COM
plete revolution in public sentiment regard
ing the most important measure that was
ever passed by an American congress. 1t
would be still more singular that this
revolution should be produced with
out any apparent cause. AS we have be-
fore stated, the law itself is not yet fairly
in operation, and there is no possible means
to tell that its effect is going to be different
from what was popularity supposed before
the law went into operation. 1t was not
expected that the interstate commerce law
would be perfect in its earliest stages. 1t
was an experiment which has to be i'm
proved upon. What the country wants is
fair trial of the experiment in order that
its defects may be discovered and remeded.
1t was to be hoped that the railway mana
gers would take this view of it, and Join
with the people in bringing the law to per-
lection. But they are not doing it. They
have started in with conspiracy to make
the law unpopular. They have commenced
early because they do not want to give the
interstate commission a chance to construe
the law in way to commend it to public
approval. In that arbitrary sort of way,
III which railway corporations are accus-
toned to act, they have placed their own
interpretations upon the law, and are CIV
ing it a vigorous enforcement according to
their own construction of it. It is their
policy to make the law as odious as
it is possible to make it. Then they lay
the foundation of popular discomfort. and
then with the artful eloquence of a MARC
ANTONY attempt to stir the people into
mutiny. The public meetings which are
being held and whose proceedings are being
flashed over the wires are for the most part
worked up by the railway managers. They
are a part of the general conspiracy to man.
ufacture fictitious sentiment in opposition
to the law. for the purpose OF influencing
the next congress. 1t will be time enough
after the law has one years fair trial to pass
judgment on it.